Featured obituary: Dr. Keith Green

Dr. Keith Green, a former director of ophthalmology research at the Medical College of Georgia, was the world authority in his field, according to Dr. Malcolm Luxenberg, former chairman and professor emeritus of ophthalmology at MCG.

"He was absolutely great at his research, but he was also a wonderful person with a good sense of humor," Dr. Luxenberg said. "He had a chuckle you could hear across the hall."

Dr. Green, 61, died Thursday at his residence. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Platt's Funeral Home on North Belair Road.

Dr. Green, a native of England, earned his doctorates of philosophy and science from St. Andrews University in Scotland. He moved to the United States in 1964 after being offered a research position at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland.

According to his wife, Myra Green, of Evans, it was intended to be a short stay.

"He came for a position that was supposed to last two or three years and ended up staying 10," she said.

He was appointed director of ophthalmology research at MCG in 1974. Dr. Green contributed to 30 books on eye research and published more than 330 articles in scientific journals.

Dr. Luxenberg said Dr. Green enjoyed his research so much that nothing could keep him from it.

"He had a real desire to live and continue his work," he said. "He had plans to continue even though he was sick. He was even working on a new grant to the National Institutes of Health."

Other survivors include a son, Philip Green, Martinez; a daughter, Kathryn Komoroski, Greenville, S.C.; a brother, Norman Green, Luton, England; and a grandchild.